Design and construction of jigs and fixtures



April 27, 1954 w WHARTON ETAL 2,676,413

ND CONSTRUCTION OF J Ap 1954 w. WHARTON ETAL DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF JIGS AND FIXTURES Filed Dec. 12, 1950 e Shets-Sheet 2 April 27, 1954 w. WHARTON ETAL 2,676,413

DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF JIGS AND FIXTURES Filed Dec. 12, 1950 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 A ril 27, 1954 w, WHARTON ETAL 2,676,413

DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF JIGS AND FIXTURES Filed Dec. 12, 1950 a Shets-Sheet 4 April 1954 w. WHARTON ET AL DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF JIGS AND FIXTURES Filed D60. 12, 1950 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 W. WHARTON ETAL April 27, 1954 DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF JIGS AND FIXTURES 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Dec. 12, 1950 Patented Apr. 27, 1954 DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF J IGS AND FIXTURES William Wharton, Mi arton, Hendo 9 Claims.

The present invention relates to the design and construction of jigs and fixtures and to the possibility of simplifying the production of components normally manufactured in batches or in small quantities to accurate dimensions necesskill in setting up and machining, the

ing and constructing jig or fixture equipment and subsequent times taken for completing the necessary operations on the components with consequent greater output per machine by the use of semi-skilled labour.

In a method commonly used today for constructing a jig or fixture for the production of a component, a drawing of the component is given to a jig or fixture designer with a list of the planned operations to be effected on said component. From these he proceeds to design the jig which may in some cases take several weeks. When this design has been completed and approved it is passed to a constructor or engineer for the construction of the finished jig which may take several more weeks.

An object of this invention is to eliminate the necessity for the preparation of a design and for the construction of a jig from said design as above described by providing a plurality of interchangeable standard elements by means of which the designer, preferably in conjunction with the constructor or engineer may build up the main framework of jigs of various forms and sizes, said elements being made of materials normally used in the manufacture of jigs and fixtures or formed of any suitable mouldable material either with or without pressure, or die cast. a

This early collaboration in a practical form between the designer and the engineer will avoid to a considerable extent delays usually associated with jig production, even in well considered layouts, due to modifications when putting the equipment to work on a machine.

Existing types of jigs in the main consist of a structure designed exclusively for the purpose of holding and locating one particular component to be operated on. This structure may be made as a casting or may be fabricated by welding or built up of a series of small parts dowelled and bolted together. It may have a base and sides or may consist of a plate with supports for mounting it on a machine table. On this main structure may be mounted. pads for the location of the component which may be fixed to it by dowels and/or bolts set in the solid structure setting faces in a definite relationship to the face or the faces to be machined. It may also contain means 11 Hill, London, and John 11, London, England Application December 12, 1950, Serial N 0. 200,316

Claims priority, application Great Britain November 9, 1943 for holding the component rigidly during machining operations.

Jigs and fixtures for holding and/or locating other components in the course of manufacture for the purpose of effecting drilling, machining or other operations or for the inspection of a manufactured article or component are usually formed as single units and are of permanent form which, as will be obvious, become obsolete with a change of product or modification in design of the component, or have to be retained for long periods for the purpose of supplying spare parts, thereby occupying considerable storage space which might be used to better advantage.

Certain built up jigs have, however, been prcposed such as, for example, jigs built up from sets of elements comprising base plates, angle plates, V blocks, brackets, bars of various sections, packing pieces, keys and pins, and bushes and the like of various sizes and shapes, and all ma chine finished so that they may be assembled and secured in true alignment but the design of the separate or unitary elements employed limits the variety of combinations and is not universal in its application.

The interchangeable standard elements according to this invention are furnished with T- slots, tenon slots and tenons formed and arranged to locate and secure the elements relatively to one another and to a base on which they are mounted and secured, the elements and the base being universally adjustable with respect to each other whereby it is possible to assemble them in an unlimited number of ways to build up the main framework of any jig or fixture that is required.

This application is a continuation in part of application #553,414, filed November 14, 1944, and now abandoned.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate this invention:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one form of rectangular sub-base on which the various forms of standard elements shown in the subsequent figures may be secured.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of one form of standard frame element which may be secured to the sub-base shown in Figure 1 and upon which other forms of standard elements may be secured,

Figure 8a is a perspective view from above and showing two sides of one form of stop element,

Figure 3b is a perspective view from below and showing a further side of the stop element shown in Figure 3a,

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a second form of standard frame element with a circular angle setting unit mounted thereon,

Figure 5 is a perspective view showing the separate parts of the circular angle setting unit,

Figure 6 is an exploded perspective view of an adaptor unit, two other forms of stop elements and a side extension frame element,

Figure '7 is a perspective view of two forms of height elements, one being variable,

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a simple fixture which can be constructed in accordance with this invention,

Figure 9 is a perspective view of a second simple fixture which can be constructed in accordance with this invention,

Figure 10 is a perspective view of a third simple fixture which can be constructed in accordance with this invention,

Figure 11 is a perspective view of a fourth simple fixture which can be constructed in accordance with this invention, and

Figure 12 is a perspective view of a sine-bar unit for providing a surface inclined to that of the sub-base and upon which other forms of standard elements may be secured.

The basic elements of this invention are designed to form the main framework of a jig and to provide reaction points to the forces of a cutting tool or external forces caused by clamping I a component in position in the jig. These basic elements are illustrated in Figures 1 to 7 of the drawings and comprise sub-bases, frame elements, stop elements, angle setting units and height elements. While certain dimensions are given hereinafter in connection with these and other elements these dimensions are only given by way of example so that the preferred construction of the elements can be readily understood.

As shown in Figure l a sub-base I is provided at each end with an extension 2 in which is formed a slot 3 adapted to receive clamping means (not shown) for securing the sub-base on a machine base proper. T-slots 4 are arranged in equally spaced parallel relationship longitudinally across the face of the sub-base, while two further transverse T-slots 5 are arranged at right angles to the T-slots 4, one near each end of the sub-base. Further T-slots 6 are arranged in the vertical sides of the sub-base I. The T-slots 4, 5, 6 are all T of an inch in width, and the pitch of the T-slots 4 is 2 inches.

The standard frame element l shown in Figure 2 is of elongated rectangular shape being provided on its under surface with a tenon B adapted to be received in any one of the longitudinal T-slots 4 in the sub-base I. In its upper surface it is provided with a T-slot 9 arranged at right angles to the tenon 8 so that when the tenon 8 is an gaged in a T-slot 4 the T-slot 9 is disposed at right angles to the T-slots and parallel to the T-slots 5 in the sub-base. The tenon 8 is a few thousandths of a tenth of an inch less than T of an inch in width and the T-slot 9 is 1% of an inch in width.

The stop element I0 shown in Figures 3a and 3b is of elongated shape being 4 inches in height and square in horizontal cross section or plan view, the side of the square being 2 inches, which is the same as the pitch of the T-slots 4 in the sub-base. On its under surface it is provided with a central tenon II, equal in width to the tenon 8 on the frame element I, adapted to be received, for example, in any one of the longitudinal or transverse T-slots 4, 5 in the sub-base I or in the T-slot 9 in the frame I. When two stop elements are disposed side by side in two adjoining T-slots 4 in a sub-base I they abut against each other. In two adjacent sides I2, I3 of the stop element there are provided central vertical T-slots I4, I5, 1%; of an inch in width, while in the other two adjacent sides IE, IT there is provided a plurality of horizontal T-slots l8, 1 g of an inch in width, arranged in equally spaced parallel relationship. In the upper end of the stop element there is provided a central tenon slot I9, of an inch in width, adapted to receive the tenon II on the under surface of a second stop element.

Stop elements are of different sizes. In Figure 6, to which more detailed reference will be made hereinafter, two further stop elements I0 and It are shown. These are respectively one third and two thirds of the height of the stop element I0 shown in Figures 3a and 3b, having one and two horizontal T-slots It in the sides I6 and IT.

The pitch of the T-slots IS, in each element provided with more than one T-slot is 1%; inches. Also the centre of the only or of the lowermost T-slot I8 is of an inch from the bottom of the stop element, and the centre of the said only or of the uppermost T-slot I8 is of an inch from the top of the stop element so that when two or more stop elements are mounted one on top of each other with tenons I I engaged in tenon slots 19 the pitch of all the T-slots IS in the stop elements is still 1 inches.

In Figure 4 there is shown firstly a second form of standard frame element 20 provided on one side with a tenon 2I equal in width to the tenon 8 on the frame element 1, on the opposite side with a tenon slot 22, and in one long side joining said two sides with a T-slot 23, the tenon slot 22 and T-slot 23 both being e of an inch in width. This frame element may be positioned as shown on a sub-base I with its tenon 2I engaged in one of the longitudinal T-slots 4, or in one of the transverse T-slots 5. Furthermore by engaging the tenon 2! in one of the T-slots 6 in the side of the sub-base the frame element 20 may be used to provide a local extension of the sub-base.

Also shown in Figure 4 is a circular angle setting unit 24, the two separately in Figure 5. One part 25 is in the form of a circular ring graduated on its outer edge from 0-360 and provided on its under sur face with a tenon slot 26, i of an inch in width for the reception of two separate tenons 21 adapted to locate it in any of the T-slots in the sub-base I, the frame elements I, 20 or the stop elements I0, I0 II) the tenons being as previously a few thousandths of a tenth of an inch less than of an inch. The other part 28 comprises a block 29 of square cross section having on one side a central tubular boss 30 adapted to receive the ring like part 25. The block 29 is identical with an end portion of a stop element I0, being provided in two sides with T- slots 3|, 32 (corresponding to the T-slots I4, I5 in a stop element Ill) and in its outer end with a tenon slot 33, ft; of an inch in width, adapted to receive the tenon II on the under surface of a stop element. A setting oint 29 is marked on one edge of the block 29.

In Figure 6 there are shown the stop elements I0 and II! to which reference has already been made, and to assist in holding these two ele ments rigidly together when mounted one on top of the other there is provided an interlocking parts of which are shown T-shaped tenon 34 adapted to be engaged in the adjoining end portions of the vertical T- slots M or IE. Also shown in Figure 6 is a side horizontal cross section, having two tenon slots 39 disposed at right angles to each other in its upper and lower faces the tension slots in one face being of an inch in width and the tenon slots in the other face being of an inch in T-slots in said sub-base. 40 may be stepped so that in the 1; of an inch T-slots tenon slot on one face of In Figure 7 there are shown two forms of height elements. The height element 4| is of elongated rectangular shape being 4 inches in width and having in its upper and lower faces two tenon slots 42, 1%. of an inch in width, disposed at right angles to each other. The height element 4! is located and held, for a sub-base l by two separate stepped tenons 4d. The height element 44 comprises two parts 45, 46 arranged to slide relatively to each other on inclined planes, a Vernier scale 4'! being provided on their adjoining side walls to enable slight adjustments of height to be accurately effected and measured. The part 45 is adapted to seat and to be secured on a base 4'8 which is provided in its lower face with tenon slots of As shown the tenons they may be engaged 4 and a 1% of an inch the adaptor unit.

A plurality of height elements such as the element 4! is provided, the vertical dimensions of such elements varying so that in conjunction with the variable height element 44 it is possible to build up a column of height" elements to any desired height. It will be noted than the width of the height elements 4| is equal to the pitch of the T-slots it in the sto elements so that when two height elements are located side by side by separate tenons in two adjacent T- slots [8 they will abut against each other.

It will be appreciated that the basic elements hereinbefore described are all machined to a very great degree of accuracy so that they can be interengaged without any lateral play. A tolerance of three tenths of a thousandth of an inch has proved suitable.

The frame elements 7, 20, I Q, I83 H3 the circular angle setting unit 24, the adaptor unit 38, the side extension element 35 and the height elements 4!, 44 are all provided with holes the like 53 may be passed for rigidly securing assembled elements together, the elements being recessed, as for example at to receive securing nuts 54 and the stop elements the head of said 50 through which T-bolts 01" 5| in Figure 3a,

T-bolts or the like being engaged in the T- slots of said elements. The T 1; of an inch T- slots are intended to receive heavier T bolts than the l of an inch T-slots.

It will be understood that, whereas single eleother jigs or fixtures.

Examples of simple fixtures which can be built up using the basic elements hereinbefore decribed are shown in Figures 8, 9, 10 and 11.

holding a component 52 having a stepped axis a stop element I9 mounted on and secured to a sub-base I, the securing bolt and nut being shown at 53 and 54 respectively. Special V blocks 55, which are similar to the adaptor unit 38 in that they are provided with cross tenon widths in each face disposed at right angles to each other, are tenoned to this by means of separate tenons 43 engaging in the upper of the horizontal T-slots it in one side of the stop element and the other by means of separate tenons (not shown) engaging The V blocks are finally rigidly secured in position by T-bolts 53 and securing nuts 54. In the case of a component with a parallel axis the V blocks can be disposed at the same height.

The fixture shown in Figure 9 is designed for supporting a large circular component 5 8 and elements I0 mounted in spaced relationship in either a longitudinal or transverse T-slot 4, 5 respectively on a sub-base To each stop element is secured in the manner above described a special half V block 57, provided with cross tenon slots of different widths as before the latter being tenoned to its stop element by means of separate tenons 43 engaging in the vertical T-slot 14. It will be noted that one side of the half V blocks is plain and the other serrated. The stop elements may be moved towards or away from each other according to the diameter of the component 55.

The fixture shown in Figure 10 is designed for use in drilling operations on a component, and comprises a stop element Hi mounted on a subbase, to the upper end of which is tenoned by means of separate tenons G3 a block 58 for adcorner of the block 53. The clamping member 59 is locked in position by means of a T bolt 53 and locking nut 54 the latter being arranged to exert pressure on a clamping plate 6|. The clamping member 59 is provided with an elongated slot 62 to allow it the required endwise sliding movement.

The'flxture shown in Figure 11 is designed for supporting specially made members adapted to be inserted in the internal bore or bores of a component. Two stop elements are mounted in the same longitudinal T-slot 4 on a sub-base i so that the side ll of one element, with the vertical T-slot Hi, is flush with the side I! of the other element, with the horizontal T-slots i8. A locating element is mounted in the said vertical T-slot it, this element comprising an inner part 53 and an outer part 5%, the said inner part being provided with a tenon 65 for insertion in the T-slot it the said outer part 64 being internally screw threaded at its inner end to receive the outer end of a securing T bolt 53 passing through inner part -63. Internally the outer part (it tapers towards its outer end and is adapted to receive a member 38 which is specially made to fit an internal bore of a component into which it is to be inserted.

A second locating element is mounted in the upper of said horizontal T-slots it, this element comprising an inner part 6i which is similar to the inner part 53 of the first locating element except that its tenon 63 is machined to fit into the horizontal T-slot is. This inner part 61 is adapted to support a member 59 in the form of a ring made, for example, of soft steel which is also specially made to fit an internal bore of a component into which it is ring member 39 is held in position by means of a flanged nut it screwed onto the end of a securing T bolt passing through the inner part ti.

The outer part Gt of one element and the flanged nut is are both provided with recesses or the like ii for cooperation with a tightening spanner or like tool.

The stop elements 163 are adjustable towards and away from each other along the longitudinal T-slot i, one locating element is adjustable vertically in the T-slot M and the other locating element is adjustable horizontally in the T-slot 18. It will therefore be appreciated that this fixture allows of ready adjustment to accommodate any component.

Figure 12 shows a sine bar unit which may be used for providing a surface inclined to that of a sub-base i and upon which other elements may be mounted. This sine bar unit comprises a base block '12 tenone-d into any of the T-slots of a sub-base i and secured by means of a T bolt and locking nut. To this block '52 is hinged a bar 13 provided in its upper surface with a T-slot M for the reception of other elements and on its under surface with a cylindrical bar 15 adapted to rest on the top of a pillar it, which may be constructed of height elements such as those described with reference to Figure *7 or from cylindrical elements as shown. The bar 15 is clamped at the required angle by a clamp T'i through which passes a stud i8 hingedly carried by a block 19 also tenoned into and secured in a T-slot in the sub-base. Stop elements I0, I0 I3 may be used to brace the structure.

In making the sine bar unit the distance between the centre of the pivot pin 86 of the bar 13 and the centre of the bar 15 is accurately deterined so that the height of the pillar 15 required to support the bar at any particular angle can readily be calculated.

We claim:

1. A stop element for use in designing and constructing the main framework of a jig or fixture to position a work piece above a base having a flat upper face with a plurality of equally spaced to be inserted. The

parallel T-slots extending lengthwise in the upper face of the base, which comprises a rectangular block having a square horizontal cross-section, each side of which square cross-section is equal in length to the pitch of the longitudinal T-slots in the upper face of the base, a tenon on the under surface of the block, a tenon slot in the upper surface of the block, a central vertical T- slot in each of two adjacent sides of the block and a horizontal T-slot in each of the other two adjacent sides of the block.

2. A stop element for use in designing and constructing the main framework of a jig or fixture to position a work piece above a base having a flat upper face with a plurality of equally spaced parallel T-slots extending lengthwise in the upper face of the base, which comprises a rectangular block having a square horizontal cross-section, each side of which square cross-section is equal in length to the pitch of the longitudinal T-slots in the upper face of the base, a tenon on the under surface of the block, a tenon slot in the upper surface of the block, a central vertical T-slot in each of two adjacent sides of the block, and a plurality of equally spaced horizontal T-slots in each of the other two adjacent sides of the block.

3. A set of elements for use in designing and constructing the main framework of a jig or fixture which comprises a base having a flat upper face with a plurality of equally spaced parallel T-slots extending lengthwise in the upper face of the base; means for positioning a work piece above the base, which means includes a stop element comprising a rectangular block having a square horizontal cross-section, each side of which square cross-section is equal in length to the pitch of the longitudinal T-slots in the upper face of the base, a tenon on the under surface of the block, a tenon slot in the upper surface of the block, a central vertical T-slot in each of two adjacent sides of the block and a horizontal T-slot in each of the other two adjacent sides of the block; and means for securing the tenon on the under surface of the stop element relative to one of the T-slots in the base, wherein a plurality of said stop elements abutted vertically, transversely and longitudinally above the base provide vertical faces having a plurality of parallel equally spaced T-slots therein.

4. A set of elements according to claim 3 in which the means for securing the stop element above the base includes a frame element of rectangular horizontal cross-section having on its under surface a tenon for engagement in one of the T-slots in the base and having a T-slot in its upper face disposed at right angles to said tenon for engaging the tenon on the under surface of the stop element.

5. A set of elements according to claim 3 in which the means for positioning a work piece above the base further comprises a height element formed of a rectangular block having two tenon slots disposed at right angles to each other in the lower surface of the height element and two tenon slots disposed at right angles to each other in the upper surface of the height element, and means for securing a tenon slot in the under surface of said height element relative to one of the T-slots in said base and said stop element.

6. A set of elements according to claim 3 in which the means for positioning a work piece above the base further includes an angle setting unit for'angularly mounting other elements of ment comprising a rectangular block having a square horizontal cross-section, each side of which square cross-section is canal in length to the pitch of the longitudinal T-slots in the upper the block, a central vertical T-slot in each of two adjacent sides of the block and a horizontal ments of the set formed of a circular ring having a tenon slot in its under surface and of a block of square cross-section having a central tubular boss rotatably mounted in the ring, a tenon slot in its outer end and a central vertical T-slot in each of two adjacent sides; and means for securing said elements above the base, which means includes a frame element of rectangular horizontal cross-section having on its under surface a tenon for engagement in one of the T-slots in the base and having a T-slot in its upper face disposed at right angles to said tenon for engaging the tenon on the under surface of the stop securing a tenon slot in the under surface of said height element rela tive to one of the T-slots in said base and said stop element, wherein a plurality of said stop 8. A set of elements according to claim 3 in which the base is further provided with two transverse T-slots in the upper face arranged end of the base, and a T-slot extending lengthrectangular block having a width equal to the pitch of said horizontal T-slots in said stop element, two tenon slots disposed at right angles to each other in the lower surface of the height element and two tenon References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 551,777 List Dec. 24, 1895 1,092,591 Pageau Apr. 1, 1914 1,209,667 Buhr Dec. 26, 1916 1,396,165 Cory Nov. 8, 1921 1,420,321 Klausmeyer June 20, 1922 1,902,136 Mills Mar. 21, 1933 1,935,542 Bursell Nov. 14, 1933 2,141,751 Hertlein Dec. 27, 1938 2,205,799 McMenamin June 25, 1940 2,349,087 Fraser May 16, 1944 2,356,300 Boettcher Aug. 22, 1944 2,369,425 Becker Feb. 13, 1945 2,429,893 Parks et a1. Oct. 28, 1947 2,430,613 Hodge Nov. 11, 1947 2,460,330 Baccaro Feb. 1, 1949 2,536,937 Hosea Jan. 2, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 403,228 Great Britain Dec. 21, 1933 OTHER REFERENCES American Machinist, pages 910-912, September 

